Rugby Reports 20
(1975-76)

FIRST XV 1975-76

Played 26, Won 4, Drawn 2, Lost 20, For 128, Against 549

As the results suggest, this has been a very disappointing and frustrating season for the First fifteen.

Although some individuals showed a fair amount of skill, this very rarely resulted in a united team performance. Too often, promising moves would die out because of a lack of understanding, or poor execution of basic skills. And perhaps here lay the root of the problem - with a comparatively weak Colts side coming into senior rugby, combined with a large number of injuries, the players needed, even more than usual, to be fit, co-ordinated as a team, and to be guided by the more experienced players. Unfortunately, these requirements were not met.

Even so, there were good performances, notably against a very strong St. Joseph's Academy side, the school eventually losing an excellent game 15-9. Also, in the St. George's, Vyners, and Old Boys games, the side showed great spirit.

Even allowing for the poor fifteens season, the side looked to possess a fair sevens team. Although not reaching the last sections of any tournament, some good games were played: an 8-6 loss in the last few seconds of the game to a strong John Fisher seven; an excellent 16-8 win over Gayton High, and an exciting 18-14 loss to Shebbear College.

The team deserve congratulations for sticking to a very difficult task. The senior players remaining could prove a useful basis for next year's team, provided they realise how important a part they have to play in helping the less-experienced players.

Full Colours have been awarded to: R. Burdett.

Half Colours have been awarded to: M. Dickens, N. Hicks, C. Orlans, P. Darrell. The Barker Cup for the most improved player this season goes to: N. Hicks.

Our thanks must go to all the mothers who have provided the teams with such excellent teas, and specially to Mrs. Marshall for her excellent work in her first year of organising the refreshments.

A. Kerr

SECOND XV

This was undoubtedly a disastrous season for the Second XV. The weekly match reports told almost the same incessant story of the inadequacies in our performances, poor tackling in the backs, and a lack of aggression in the forwards. Some of our deficiencies can be explained by the continuous drain on our resources through 1st XV injuries, together with a lack of strength in depth.

This season was not, however, without its highlights, and we enjoyed a moderately successful period just before Christmas when we defeated St. Albans Grammar School 28-0, Latymer Upper 34-0, had two games that we should have won cancelled and were only defeated 20-10 by a strong Old Boys side having led 6- 4 at half-time. We also beat London Oratory 16-4, Boxbowne 14-3 and Slough 1st XV 19-12. After Christmas, however, the team was heavily defeated on far too many occasions, and we lost all the final seven games.

Despite the gloom, several members of the team performed consistently well all season, notably D. Yuill and M. Stevens, and others, who had no opportunity of rising to the "dizzy" heights of 1st XV rugby, were able to turn out every week and perform creditably, in particular M. Kendall, C. Phillips, A. Paul and J. Andrews.

On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Mr. Cambridge and Mr. Cahill for all the time and energy they devoted to the 2nd XV this season.

D. R. Leigh

THIRD XV

Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 2, For 26, Against 78

There not being sufficient numbers on the option this year to run a 3rd XV, naturally the few Wednesday fixtures were cancelled. On hearing this, the 3rd XV rose in anger from such exotic places as the Hockey pitch, Badminton Court, Ruislip Woods, and such places as the 3rd XV go in the winter, and demanded that the matches be played.

The games against Northwood 1st XV and St. Benedict's U16's were colourful affairs. The 3rds showed a slight lack of fitness and team-work strange after all their training sessions both of which were easily made up for by the tremendous enthusiasm of the side.

The game against Gunnersbury was an epic. Play flowed from one ten metre line to the other, and the sight of the team in full cry, coming downhill with a following wind, was a sight never to be forgotten. The final score was 6-6.

My thanks to all players who showed a refreshing outlook on the game.

A Kerr

Colts XV

Played 22 Won 15 Drawn 0 Lost 7 For 415 Against 240

This has been another good season for a very promising team. The most notable feature has been the excellent way in which the team has responded to the challenge of playing sides which have previously beaten them. The wins over St. Albans, John Fisher, St. Joseph's and Tiffin have all been based on hard forward play, enabling the talented backs to score the necessary points. These performances contrast with other too casual performances when the team lost to sides they should have beaten.

Mumby, Hill and Holden have been outstanding in the pack and ably supported by a selection from Hislop, Mackie, McDermott, Raimbach, Hamilton and Horne. Mason, Gross, McKenzie and Pound invariably played well and were greatly aided by the steady contributions of Orlans, Lane, Hartley and Neal. The captain, Searle, had an excellent season, as did Mumby, who displayed qualities of leadership and those of a good competition.

The team played well in several Sevens competitions. Finalists in the Warby Sevens (in both A and B events) and in the Bucks Sevens, the side won the Borough Sevens.

The season ended in the best possible way with a most enjoyable tour to Hipperholme, of which the highlights were an exciting win over the host school, a good win over a strong Leeds Grammar School side and, not least, the splendid meals provided at the school by our hosts.

A. Kerr

Under 14 XV

Played 20 Won 10 Lost 10 For 336 Against 288

Above all else, this was a most enjoyable season, with a very good team spirit, and strong support from the top squad of thirty players.

The back row of Hird, Williams and Telfer proved to be very mobile, and were often involved in attacking moves, supporting the backs who were not as strong as some opponents.

Mark Thomas became team captain, and marshalled the backs well, giving sterling examples of defensive and attacking play, and is to be congratulated for his season's work. The two tries he scored are among the best of the 70 scored this season.

That St Nicholas have at last produced a team of large forwards (except for the excellent Causton) augurs well. Over half the tries were scored by them, following hard open running and good support play. Kirkham led the pack very well, and set up many chances for the backs to use.

The matches which were lost reflected the team's biggest weakness (other than goal-kicking) which was comprehensive defence. Too often, St Nicholas looked like Santa Claus, generously providing gifts of openings for opponents to run through and score.

Of the matches won, the most exciting and gratifying was the victory over St. George's College 19-18. Although scores of a similar nature were not frequent, there were several in which the final result could have gone either way.

The season finished with a tour to Hipperholme, and the report of this appears elsewhere in the magazine. This very enjoyable tour reflected clearly the spirit and character of U14 rugby this season.

A. R. Taylor

Under 13 XV

Played 19 Won 13 Drawn 1 Lost 5 For 327 Against 131

This has been a very enjoyable and successful season, in which the individual standard of play improved considerably.

Marshall's rucking ability and bone-shaking tackling are something to be remembered; as are Hughes acceleration and side-step; Brown is developing into a good scrum-half; Taylor shows considerable skill and tactical sense at fly-half; M. Smith has played equally well at Prop and Centre; Sarratt showed ability in his new position at full-back. Newport and Cunningham gave a good account of themselves, as did their slightly more mobile replacements, Squires and Stone; Solomon, Price and Harris have all shown a commendable consistency in their play.

The side were Pool Winners in the Gunnersbury Sevens, and beaten finalists in the Borough Sevens.

A. Kerr

Under 13 XV PRE-SEASON TRAINING CAMP AT SATTERTHWAITE

A water shortage in the Grizedale Valley of South Lakeland almost prevented the holding of our pre-season training camp in the very week we were due to leave. We eventually arrived at Satterthwaite Church hall in a mini-bus carrying fifteen boys, four staff and fifty gallons of Thames Valley water. At the other end we were given strange looks as we disappeared into Hawkshead public lavatory with our containers at two-day intervals.

It soon became apparent that serious rugby training might cripple all fifteen boys and we had to settle for five and ten-a-side football, and cricket. This, together with some hill walking, rowing and swimming, at least ensured that we shed the pounds put on through the consumption of Mr Cahill's superb cordon bleu menus.

As darkness settled over Satterthwaite each night the squad engaged in quieter forms of recreation, though excitement frequently surfaced noisily as Mr. Thacker lost once more at "Nominations". Others played chess and Mastermind.

Mr. Cahill brightened up our sad departure from the village by inadvertently cleaning his teeth with a tube of my "Deep Heat' embrocation! The "ring of confidence" has nothing on the after-effects of that treatment!

Thanks go to my colleagues Mr. Cahill, Mr. Thacker and Mr. Rayner (chief mini- bus driver and assistant chef) for helping to make the time extremely enjoyable and to the Satterthwaite residents for their kindness in accommodating a party for a seventh successive summer. It was a very valuable eight days in all respects, with individual strengths and weaknesses tested in a variety of skills, not all of them sporting. Judging by the early season form and enthusiasm it seems obvious that the week has proved highly beneficial.

J.G.H.

Under 12 XV

Played 9 Won 3 Drawn 0 Lost 6 For 128 Against 130

The winning of the Borough Championship at Ruislip Rugby Club in March by an aggregate score of 124-8 set the seal on a half-season that revealed that this is a side with potential. There is a good balance between individual skill, strength, and teamwork.

Given such material it is, perhaps, surprising that more games were not won. Two main reasons may be cited for this: first, we met sides who were having outstanding seasons (Tiffin, Latymer, St Joseph's) and secondly, the forwards tended to be greedy, after winning good possession from the loose, in constantly breaking with the ball, instead of allowing it to be spun down a line that, given the chance, could find the spaces. One has, therefore, to reflect on "the games that got away" where first-half territorial domination did not show in the score-line (Reigate, Tiffin, St Joseph's, Haberdasher's, Q.E.'s Barnet). Reigate (our first game, their ninth) who went unbeaten in the season, must be eternally grateful to us for allowing them to win 20-6 instead of sending them home with red faces. The scoreless first-half against Queen Elizabeth's was a feast of defensive play on our part, as we played up the slope and into a gale; yet we should have had a comfortable half-time lead. Injuries to three players eventually turned this game against us.

Gary Keegan's line-out jumping, "Nobby" (jun.) Neal's scrum-half play, David Josey's fielding of the ball and speed, Adrian Hopson's vision and balance and Colin Reap's captaincy are remembered from the 1976 season, as is the parental support the team received.

J.G.H.